For the first time since the 2017-18 (excluding the 2021 Championship), U20 Six Nations, Wales made it back-to-back wins as they put aside Ireland in front of a boisterous Rodney Parade.
In the first Wales U20 match at Rodney Parade since 2008, Wales looked to carry on a trend that they had set that year, where they won all three of their games in Newport. An early penalty try was followed by brilliance by Steffan Emanuel as Wales at the break, led 14-12. Then penalties from both Harri Wilde and Harri Ford secured Wales a historic in the U20 Six Nations.
It was a fast start to proceedings as Wales found themselves on the front foot immediately after a penalty kick into the 22 by outside half Harri Wilde. Then, at the first time of asking from a catch and drive, the visitors turned the ball over and won a scrum.
However, the hosts regained possession after winning a penalty, and from the kick into the corner, a powerful driving maul followed. After it was brought down, referee Morgan White awarded the hosts a penalty try as Wales went into an early 7-0 just after three minutes.
Ireland then looked to have responded accordingly, as after spreading the ball to the outside winger Charlie Molony looked to have crossed, but the ball went forward.
On 14 minutes blindside, Michael Foy made a brilliant break through the hosts’ defence to put his side metres out. It looked like Ireland may have crossed over after some big hits on the solid Wales’ defence, but after another TMO check the try was disallowed.
Inside centre, Steffan Emanuel scored Wales’ second moments later after crossing the whitewash. This came from a brilliant kick upfield from the Cardiff Rugby player, who then won the kick chase as he regained possession and crossed. Wilde added the extras on 15 minutes as Wales went further into the lead.
Later in the first half, Wilde was penalised for being offside inside the hosts’ 22. After kicking into the corner, a catch and drive followed and hooker Henry Walker crossed over for Ireland’s first of the evening. Fullback Daniel Green was unable to add the extras. (14-5).
Prior to the interval, Emanuel’s opposite number, Eoghan Smyth powered his way over to score Ireland’s second of the encounter. Green this time around added the extras and reduced the deficit to just two points at the break.
The second half began with some early exchanges with the boot from sides, but outside half Wilde scored the first points of the half. The visitors were penalised and the 19-year-old calmly extended his side’s lead to five points on 49 minutes before being replaced by Harri Ford shortly after.
Ireland held a lot of possession moving into the final quarter but was unable to get past an inspired Welsh team who showed a lot of strength at times in defence.
Replacement outside half, Tom Wood put a brilliantly timed kick in behind and from the resulting lineout the visitors regained possession and won a penalty. There was more heroic defending on show from the hosts as they held the ball up over the line after continuous pressure from Ireland in attack.
In the closing moments, Ireland was then penalised around the scrum and Harri Ford, like he did in Treviso slotted the three points as Wales made it back-to-back wins in this year’s 2025 U20 Six Nations.
FT: Wales 20-12 Ireland
Wales: 20
Tries: Steffan Emanuel (15’)
Penalties: Harri Wilde (49’), Harri Ford (78’)
Conversions: Harri Wilde (15’)
Penalty Tries: 1 (3’)
Ireland: 12
Tries: Henry Walker (26’), Eoghan Smyth (39’)
Penalties:
Conversions: Daniel Green (40’)
Referee: Morgan White (HKCR)
Assistant Referee 1: Jeremy Rozier (FFR)
Assistant Referee 2: Ru Campbell (SRU)
Attendance: 3,641
Player of the Match: Sam Scott
WALES U20: Jack Woods (Bath); Aidan Boshoff (Bristol Bears), Osian Roberts (Sale Sharks), Steff Emanuel (Cardiff), Tom Bowen (Cardiff); Harri Wilde (Cardiff), Logan Franklin (Dragons); Ioan Emanuel (Bath), Harry Thomas (Scarlets), Sam Scott (Bristol Bears), Kenzie Jenkins (Bristol Bears), Tom Cottle (RGC), Dan Gemine (Ospreys), Harry Beddall (Leicester Tigers) (c), Evan Minto (Dragons).
Replacements: Evan Wood (Cardiff Met), Louie Trevett (Bristol Bears), Owain James (Dragons), Luke Evans (Exeter Chiefs), Caio James (Gloucester), Sion Davies (Cardiff), Harri Ford (Dragons), Elijah Evans (Cardiff).
IRELAND U20: Daniel Green (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster); Charlie Molony (UCD RFC/Leinster), Connor Fahy (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Eoghan Smyth (Cork Constitution FC/Munster), Ciarán Mangan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster); Sam Wisniewski (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Clark Logan (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster); Billy Bohan (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Henry Walker (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Tom McAllister (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Mahon Ronan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), Billy Corrigan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), Michael Foy (UCC RFC/Munster), Bobby Power (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Éanna McCarthy (Galwegians RFC/Connacht) (capt).
Replacements: Mikey Yarr (UCD RFC/Leinster), Paddy Moore (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Alex Mullan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Conor Kennelly (Highfield RFC/Munster), David Walsh (Terenure College RFC/Leinster), Will Wootton (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby), Tom Wood (Garryowen FC/Munster), Gene O’Leary Kareem (UCC RFC/Munster).
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